Revenge on ex boyfriend gone murderously wrong is what you'll find in Gloria Chao's The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club. Three women who are wronged by Tucker Jones, plot their revenge prank to only discover his dead body in one of his closets. The three of them come together and somehow try to solve his murder kind of/sort of with the help of the police. Throw in some misleading and condemning red herrings that puts the one scorned lover as the main suspect, and a revenge podcast which seems to make things worse.

My first critique is the ex boyfriend's name... Tucker Jones? Way too similar to the name John Tucker, which was a clear reminder of the comedy movie "John Tucker Must Die" with a plot of three scorned ex-girlfriends who plot against him for screwing them simultaneously. We couldn't come up with a more original name that this? One should have just named him John Smith at that point. What also threw me off was the one main character and her family dynamic. I am not sure if that was completely necessary, but I guess it was for character development. Sometimes the integration of the podcast threw me off a little, too. And the one romantic relationship felt a bit forced and could have done without. I guess it was created for the further development of the character and for future books of the series.

I did enjoy the whole murder mystery aspect of the book, especially the little twist at the end. I did enjoy seeing the main FMC grow and find a relationship beyond the one failed romantic one. I think in the view of that this is a mainstream easy book to consume, then this was a good read. Under a different view with a harsher lens, it deserves a bit more refinement. Would recommend for a fun and easy read at the beach or pool!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

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I truly loved the vibes from this read! It gives the John Tucker must die movie vibe but with a twist, I truly enjoyed every moment of this read! I loved the mystery twist to this and yes I saw the ending coming however it was still so fun and exciting!! Truly so good!

3.5 stars
Audiobook

Finally allowing herself to fall in love, Kathryn Hu discovers that her too-good-to-be-true boyfriend is not all he seems - he has more women in his life. Angry and hurt, the women bond together and plan revenge. However, funny pranks shockingly turn into murder accusations! Who killed Tucker Jones? How dirty was he? Add in a war with a true crime podcast, and hijinks ensue.

A hilarious cozy mystery novel about revenge and the power of friendship: Chao wrote a story that is fun and filled with HEAs for the ladies - a take on 'John Tucker Must Die' movie but aged up, and with actual murder instead of social suicide. The podcast subplot is the weaker side of the book, but the ending does tie up why it was necessary.

According to Goodreads, a sequel is planned, and I'm eager to see what the ladies get up to next!

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is peak popcorn thriller energy. I was smirking my way through the dialogue and the twisty plot like I was watching a dark comedy unfold. Imagine John Tucker Must Die… but like, he’s actually dead. LMAO.

This story strikes a fun balance between lighthearted chaos and introspective growth. The exes are out for revenge but along the way, they start facing what’s really been holding them back and work toward building something that actually makes them happy. Sure, the main trio could be a little irritating at times, but honestly? I had fun hanging out with them.

Also, random side note: I loved the quirky little sidenotes about phrase origins such a clever touch. And the ending? Totally caught me off guard (in the best way). Overall, a super entertaining read with surprising heart underneath the murder plot.

I listened to the audiobook. It may have impacted my views (no way to know for sure).
Carolyn Kang narrates, and that in itself is fine. Her inflections along with the actual book made it come off a bit too campy and ridiculous for my taste.

Three women discover they were all dating the same man when one accidentally crashed another's proposal. They banded together to play some pranks in order to get revenge- but someone got the ultimate revenge first. When they break into his apartment, they find him deceased. Someone murdered him. They need to figure out who- and quickly- before they get blamed.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I seen this on NetGalley and the title instantly had me intrigued. I just needed to listen to this and boy was I right!
From the start I was absolutely sucked in and couldn’t stop listening. The storyline was captivating and had me needing to know what was gonna happen next.
The characters are loveable and I loved the friendship they formed even though they met in such unfortunate circumstances. It was so much fun learning how the trio was going to get out of their crappy situation (iykyk). The characters were so well written and you get enough back story that they feel real.
The narrator did a great job differentiating between the characters. I was able to clearly tell who was who and it was easy to follow along to. I really enjoyed the audio book of this!
Thank You NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the copy of the ALC. These thoughts and opinions are that of my own.

I’m not the target audience for this book. The content is juvenile, and I had no respect for the characters given their immature and malicious behavior. DNF ~25%. The audiobook narration is well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

What a fun, twisty ride! The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club brilliantly blends mystery, comedy, and chaos with just the right dash of true crime satire. I was hooked from the very beginning—three women discover they’ve all been seeing the same man (who, plot twist, is married), only to find themselves at the center of a murder investigation when he turns up dead.

I loved the amateur sleuth vibes and how these exes, despite their differences, team up to clear their names. The true crime podcaster character? Hilariously unhinged and determined to get them locked up—she added so much flavor and tension to the story.

The audiobook narrator was also incredibly engaging, bringing so much personality and humor to each character that I couldn’t stop listening. And the ending? I did not see it coming at all! Full of surprises, this story had me guessing (and laughing) right up to the final reveal.

Highly recommend for fans of comedic mysteries, found-family chaos, and messy ex drama with a murdery twist!

This was very funny and very fun!

The ex-girlfriend murder club forms after Kat finds her bf proposing to another woman, Olivia. When they go on her trip together, they find him with a third woman, Elle. They start plotting for revenge and then when trashing his place discover his dead body. They try to cover up what they did because it sure looks like they murdered him, but are caught in the act. Now they have to solve the murder before they get the blame. Full of cover ups, the power of woman friendship, and lots of laughs - this book was a bit predictable but very fun!

I also was sent an audiobook ARC/ALC and absolutely adored the narrator. She really captured Kat to me and I thought was really engaging and fun. I actually looked up the narrator to see if I knew what else she may have done or could listen to some other ones.

This murder mystery by @gloriacchao is as wild as its title promises, and just as fun. If you’re a fan of movies like John Tucker Must Die and The Other Woman, with a dash of murder mystery this might be the perfect book for you!

When Kat finds out her boyfriend’s been cheating on her by awkwardly interrupting his marriage proposal to another woman, she’s obviously done with the relationship! But when she meets up with this ‘other woman’ and together they end up finding girl number 3, they accidentally form one of the most chaotic girl gangs ever! However… this little gangs plan for revenge takes a sharp turn when they stumble on his very dead body!

Fast paced, laugh out loud funny, and full of heart, this story is all about messy friendships, murder, and unexpected sisterhood. A total blast from start to finish, with a truly unexpected ending!

⚠️ this book has like no spice, but Contains some MA language

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks Audio for the advanced audiobook copy! All thoughts and opinions are mine :)

#cozymystery #foundfamily #girlpower #murdermystery #romcomvibes #womensfiction #booktokreads #funnybooks #gloriachao #thrillerbooks #tbrpile #bookrecommendation

VERY cute and enjoyable. This is a cozy murder mystery centered around a really charming friend group. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed this book -- listened on audio (the narrator was terrific!! She distinguished the three main female leads from each other without sounding fake or weird. I always knew who was speaking.)

I won't rehash the plot, the summary says it all. I wanted to read this based on the premise alone.

The humor and humorous moments weren't over-the-top, but fun and relatable. The podcast thread was great comic relief. The characters felt like real people, especially Katherine Hu (in whose head we spend our time.) What I really, really loved was how Katherine shifted over the course of the story through the support of her new friends (the other ex-girlfriends!) and how her relationship with her parents didn't so much evolve as how she realized they showed their love in unexpected ways. I liked the mystery, and while I had an idea about the ending, I didn't have everything figured out, which was awesome.

The heading says this is book 1, so I'm excited for book 2!

Received the audio through NetGalley -- thank you to the author and publisher! I listened at 1.25X speed.

VERY cute, Finlay Donovan plus Thursday Murder Club plus John Tucker Must Die plus Good Girls plus Only Murders in the Building. I love it! Plus neurodivergent lead. Loved the twists and turns.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good cozy murder mystery. The friendship in this book is what makes the story what it is and the secondary love story was sweet. For anyone who likes the movie John Tucker Must Die, this is definitely the book for you.

📕Book Thoughts
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao

This was a fun book with a different twist to it. 3 women all find out that the guy they are seeing is also seeing other women. Instead of disliking each other, they team up to get revenge on the cheating boyfriend. Sadly, while at his apartment, they find him dead.

Now they really need to team up to solve the crime before it gets pinned on one of them.

This is a murder mystery with a lighter side. Is that a thing? It must be as this book was it! It was such a fun plot and cast of characters. It had me smiling at their antics and friendly banter. I also loved all the word and saying origins throughout the book. Some were very interesting.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
By Gloria Chao
Release Date: 6.24.2025

Thank you @Harlequin Audio for the advanced listener copy of The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club!

If you are looking for a read with some shits and giggles, then pick this one up 😉.

We are following three women, strangers to each other, that find out that they have all been dating the same guy, Tucker. Shortly after, they begin planning a revenge plot against the cheater when the plans come to an abrupt halt after finding Tucker's dead body. Things don't look good for the girls.

A comical cozy mystery with unlikely friendships. I caught myself eye rolling and shaking my head throughout the book. It was a fun quirky read.

A light-hearted murder mystery following three women dating the same man who get together to plot revenge. When they discover his body, things don’t look good for them. They come under suspicion and need to solve his murder before they go down for it.

A fast paced read providing some chuckles, twists and even some romance. I listened to the audiobook which was cleverly narrated by Carolyn Kane who brought the characters to life. This is the first book in a series; look forward to reading more adventures of Katherine Hu.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a fun surprise! The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a humorous mystery with a twist—a group of women who are all exes of the same man teaming up to solve his murder. The premise alone is entertaining, but what really made it stand out was the dynamic between the women.

At first, they’re awkward and suspicious of each other, but as the story unfolds, their connection deepens in the most unexpected ways. It’s hilarious at times, but also surprisingly heartfelt. Gloria Chao did an amazing job balancing humor with emotion.

For a funny, fast-paced read, this book actually ended up being a celebration of the power of female friendships—even the ones that start under strange circumstances.

Highly recommend if you love mystery with a dash of comedy and strong women supporting each other.

This book had strong John Tucker Must Die vibes, with an added twist of murder mystery. It was a fast paced and fun read that had me laughing out loud multiple times. Kat, Olivia, and Elle are an absolutely hilarious trio. A group of one man’s exes team up and they must clear their names after things take a dark turn. All they wanted was a bit of revenge but fate clearly had other ideas. Now they must prove they didnt kill Tucker Jones.

This book was amazing, as is everything Chao writes. It’s funny, full of heart, and keeps you invested from the very beginning.